Prioritizing Stress Factors in Higher Education: A Statistical Validation of MCDM Results Using Spearman-Kendall Correlations

This study investigates key factors influencing student well-being and academic performance through a comprehensive survey of 250 college students in Coimbatore, India. Using pairwise comparison matrices and multi-criteria decision-making methods (FAHP, SAW, and WPM), we evaluated four criteria: family expectations (C1), psychological issues (C2), societal problems (C3), and financial difficulties (C4), with students categorized into five groups (Group 1 to Group factors.5) for analysis. The Multi-Criteria Model (MCM) analysis revealed that family expectations (C1) exerted the strongest influence on student outcomes, followed by psychological and societal factors, while financial difficulties demonstrated relatively weaker impact. These findings were validated through robust statistical analysis using Spearman and Kendall correlation tests, confirming the reliability of our results. Our research highlights the critical need for targeted interventions to address familyrelated academic pressures. We recommend implementing comprehensive wellness programs incorporating yoga, sports, and counseling services. The study underscores the importance of collaborative efforts between educators and families to enhance student well-being and suggests future research directions examining peer influence dynamics and institutional policy impacts for a more holistic understanding of student success